Coin-controlled vending or delivery machine.



K. E. FAWNS & G. KERMODE.

com CONTROLLED VENDING OR DELIVERY MACHINE.

APPLICATIGN FILED MAY 24, I916- Patented Sept, 5,1916.

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Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 k E. FAWNQ & s. KERMODE. COIN CONTROLLEDVENDING 0R DELIVERY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I915.

K. E. FAWNS & G. KERMODE.

com CONTROLLED VENDING 0R DELIVEBYIMACHINE.

AFPLICATION FILED MAY 24. i916.

Patented Sept. '5, 1916.

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K. E. FAWNS & G. KERMODE. com CONTROLLED VENDING 0R DELIVERY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, I916.

Patented Sept. 5,1916. 7

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KATRINE ELLEN FAWNS AND GEORGINE KERMODE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING OR DELIVERY MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No. 99,577.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, KATRINE ELLEN FAWNS and GEORGINE KnnMonn, both subjects of the King of England, of London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Vending or Delivery Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin-controlled vending or delivery machines and more particularly to such machines of that class wherein stamps, tickets or the like in strip form are delivered to a discharge aperture by the intermittent rotations of a'sprocketwheel or other feed-member operated or re leased either directly or indirectly by the act of inserting a coin, token or equivalent into the machine.

\Vhile the present improvements are ,of especial advantage as applied to a machine of the type indicated many of the features of construction or arrangement of parts may be regarded as equally applicable to vending and like machines generally.

The invention comprises an improved form of coin-chute which is mounted to swing as a whole on a longitudinal axis about which it is rocked by cooperation with the main actuating mechanism of the machine in order that rubbish, foreign matter or undesirable coins or disks inserted into the coin aperture be cleared from said chute and collected in a chamber in front of the machine. The chute, so constructed, is also mounted as to be readily removable for purposes of cleaning, repair or other reasons. The said construction of the coin-chute enables the same to remain always clear of rubbish or foreign matter and the chute may also be combined or caused to cooperate with improved means for detecting and disposing of coins of an undesirable character or those not intended to operate the machine or release same for operation.

The invention also comprises an improved casing containing the component parts of the machine whereby the latter will be particularly useful for out-door use without danger of said parts or the articles vended becoming affected by changes of temperature, vagaries of weather or other climatic influences. In this connection the aperture through which the goods are vended is disposed at the rear of the rubbish chamber aforesaid at a substantial distance from the front of the machine, access to said chamber and aperture being obtained by a preferably glazed door through which the vended goods are removed and the chamber cleared of rubbish.

The invention also comprises certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combinations of parts all as hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in appended claims.

l A practical embodiment of the invention 1s illustrated as an example in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is an elevation from one side partly in section of a machine of the type above referred to having the present improvements applied thereto and showing the position of the parts when the coin is being inserted. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig.

3 is an elevation from the other side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the manner of operating the weight upon the insertion of a coin. Fig.4 is a sectional elevation on line XX of Fig. 1 looking in direction of arrows and particularly showing the chute; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the chute parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view disclosing a modification hereinafter referred to, part of which is also shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

The machine illustrated comprises a cas ing 1 in which there is located the rotary feed wheel 2 for the stamps, having grooves and pins on its periphery, said pins engaging the perforations between successive stamps or the like and also having a loose cover 3 to retain the stamps in position on the wheel, and guide them to the discharge aperture. The said cover, is held normally in position by an arm a under the action of a spring'5 and engaging a notch 6 on the cover, said arm being capable of ready man- -ual removal from effective position when it is desired to displace the cover for placing fresh stamps in position or other pur pose. Adjacent the feed wheel 2 is a receptacle or support 7 for the reel or strip of stamps, said receptacle or support being formed of and substantially the entire casing being lined as shown at 8 with wood or other suitable material of a more or less temperature resisting or insulating quality, which tends to reduce the liability of the contents being affected by weather conditions, and the usual door 9 provided for the casing is furnished with appropriate fastening means 10 which will insure a very close fit, to the same end. The casing 1 aforesaid is at some distance to the rear of the usual front plate 11 of the machine in order to leave a chamber 12 of considerable dimensions into which rubbish or foreign matter inserted into the coin aperture or into the chute 13, hereinafter described, may fall, the rear wall 14 of this chamber, having the discharge aperture 15 therein and form ing the front of the aforesaid casing, being set back for an equivalent distance from said front plate. Opposite said discharge aperture 15 in the front plate of the machine is an opening 16 through which the stamps may be abstracted and by which also access may be had from the exterior for clearing the chamber 12 of foreign matter which may accumulate therein, and said opening is preferably closable by a glazed door 17 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as hinged at the top at 18 which must be opened by the customer as by means of a knob 19 before access to the chamber to remove the stamp can be effected. The act of opening said door is also caused to actuate a pivoted flap 20 in the chamber 12 which will shut off the latter from the chute 13 and other operative parts of the machine as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 so that when said door is open interference with said parts is prevented from the exterior. The means shown for this purpose comprise a rod or frame 21 mounted on the door hinge 18 and adapted to engage the flap 20 and force same rearward when the door 17 is opened.

The chute 13 which conveys the coin from the coin insertion aperture 22 to the operative parts of the machine or to another chute 23 (Fig. 3) leading thereto, is pivoted to a rod 24 as by means of lugs 25 so as to rock about a longitudinal axis and in the normal position of the parts is open at its base as illustrated in Fig. 5 so that any foreign matter, such as matches, paper or other rubbish which may be inserted through said coin aperture may fall clear and not accumulate in the chute to obstruct same. On insertion of a coin, an arm or lever 26,which is acted on by a coin to lift a weight 27 is raised in such a manner that the chute falls by gravity into closed position to afford a floor, base or channel for proper passage of the coin. Convenient means for effecting the purpose is to provide the chute with an arm 28 which is normally kept depressed by the weight 27 as by means of a pin 29 connected thereto which arm, on the weight being raised, is released to allow the chute to fall into operative position as illustrated in Fig. 4. The chute is also preferably made readily removable as a whole for purposes of cleaning, repair or other reasons, and to this end the rod 24 serving as the pivot is suitably screw-threaded at one end as at 30 to engage a stationary part 31 of the machine and is provided at the other end with a thumb-nut or the like 32 by which it may be unscrewed and withdrawn to release the chute.

It might be possible by insertion of an implement or device through the coin aperture to actuate the arm 26 and weight 27 without inserting a coin and thus bring the chute into operative position, leaving the chute open for the insertion of rubbish. In order to meet these conditions we may provide at the exterior of the machine a manually operable device such as a push-button 33 (Fig. and within the machine connections therefrom to the chute whereby the same may be rocked about its pivot rod 24 to clear the chute of such rubbish or if required hold same in operative position, the connections shown including a pivoted arm 34 against which the push-button abuts, this arm being connected to the chute by a pin and slot connection 35 so that when the button is pressed in, the free end of the arm 34 will be raised and thus rock the chute.

In combination with the chute above described we may, for the purpose of detecting and disposing of various undesirable coins so that the same may not act to cause operation of the machine, use the following means: If it is desired that a non-magnetizable coin, such as one of nickel-alloy, shall operate the machine, we provide at a suitable point in the path of the coin through the chute a permanent magnet 35 disposed preferably laterally of the chute, whereby when an undesirable coin is inserted, for example one of pure nickel, said coin will be slightly attracted by the magnet and deflected from the chute to fall therefrom, into a channel 36 and thence to the-chamber 12 to be returned to the user of the machine or otherwise disposed of, the chute having a base of the same, or slightly greater Width than the thickness of the coin. A non-magnetizable coin will, however, be unaffected by the magnet and will pursue the ordinary course along the chute to cause operation of the machine. Where the coin or token is sufficiently magnetizable to remain attached to the magnet, an arm or projection 37 connected to the chute is positioned adjacent.

the magnet to strike the coin and remove same from said magnet when the chute returns to normal position. For the further detection of coins according to differing diameters, we provide the chute with a laterally inclined off-set portion 38 the upper part of which is closed by a light rail 39 pivoted at 40 and having a certain freedom at its other end as by a pin and slot connec tion 41. This rail forms a continuation of the chute-wall and is provided with a lower curved edge 42 and in said off-set portion at the floor of the chute there is provided a rib 42 to which the coin is directed through a fixed chute part 42 in substantially the same plane as the rail and chute wall. When a coin of a diameter smaller than that intended for ope 'ation of the machine is inserted in the chute, it fails to be supported laterally by the rail at its curved portion, falls sidewise into the offset portion 38 and the rib 42 acting as a fulcrum causes the edge of the coin to be deflected from the chute floor and fall therefrom into the chamber 12 to be returned to the user or otherwise dealt with. This construction forms an effective means for the purpose in view and reduces the space required in those forms of detector devices wherein the coin failing to receive support from the rail simply falls through the side of the chute and turns over into a return channel or equivalent.

The fixed chute 23 of the machine forming a continuation of the movable chute described and .down which desirable coins pass forexample to the escapement mechanism 44 to release or actuate the vending mechanism proper, is formed with one or more bafiies, bends or zigzags, two of which are indicated at 45 to prevent passage of wire or other implements in attempts to interfere with the progress of the coin or to withdraw or abstract the same when once inserted, and again in order to provide access by authorized persons to such chute for the purpose of clearing the same should a coin become jammed orother obstruction occur, or for other purpose, the chute itself is formed or cut into a metal 01' other base forming a wall of the casing and is provided with a detachable .plate or cover 46, adapted to be, removed as by releasing screws 47 for the purpose mentioned.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification in which the door 48 which closes the chamber 12 is of the sliding type instead of being hinged, for which purpose it is adapted to move in guides or ways 49 in the front plate and is operable by a finger piece 50. This door also as it is raised to open same is adapted to rock the chute 13 to clear same of rubbish in a manner similar to the push-button 33 above mentioned for which purpose the upper edge of the door is adapted to engage a bell-crank 51 pivoted at 52 and which will act on a projection 53 extending from the chute 13 to rock same to open position and when the door is lowered the chute will again rock to normal position by gravity.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a coin chute normally open to clear the same of rubbish,

and adapted to swing to closed position on the insertion of a coin to afford a support for the coin, said chute being provided with a lateral off-set, a movable rail forming one side of said off-set and constituting a con tinuation of the chute wall, and a rib forming the floor of the chute.

2. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, a coinchute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter, a chamber within the casing into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto and means whereby the rocking movement of the chute is efiected by the operation of said door.

3. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a coin-chute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter and comprising a laterally off-set portion, a movable rail forming one side of said off-set portion and constituting a continuation of the chute-wall, a narrow rib forming the floor of the chute and a chamber within the casing into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received.

4. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a coin-chute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter and comprising a laterally off-set portion, a light rail forming one side of said off-set portion and constituting a continuation of the chutewall, said rail having a lower curved edge, a narrow rib forming the floor of the chute, means for mounting said chute to permit ready removal thereof, a chamber within the casing at the front thereof into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto and means whereby the rocking movement of the chute is effected by the operation of said door.

5. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a coin-chute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter, a chamber within the casing at the front thereof into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto, means whereby the rocking movement of the chute is effected by the operation of said door, a magnet adjacent the chute for attracting undesirable coins or tokens passing therethrough, and means operable by the rocking movement of the chute to remove said coins or tokens from the magnet and cause their removal to the aforesaid chamher.

6. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a coin-chute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter and comprising a laterally ofi-set portion, a light rail forming one side of said off-set portion and constituting a continuation of the chutewall, said rail having a lower curved edge,

a narrow rib forming the floor of the chute, a chamber within the easing into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto, means whereby the rocking movement of the chute is effected by the operation of said door, a magnet adjacent the chute for attracting undesirable coins or tokens passing therethrough, and means operable by the rocking movement of the chute to remove said coins or tokens from the magnet and cause their removal to the aforesaid chamber.

7. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a casing inclosing the operative parts of said machine, a pivoted coin-chute normally held open to clear the same of foreign matter, a chamber within the easing into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, said chamber having a rear wall at a substantial distance from the front of the machine and provided with an aperture for passage of the vended goods to said chamber, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto and to the vended goods, and means cooperating with the chamber door and adapted when the latter is opened to rock the coin chute to open position.

8. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a casing inclosing the operative parts of said machine, a pivoted coin-chute normally held open to clear the same of foreign matter, means for mounting said chute to permit ready removal thereof, a chamber within the casing at the front thereof into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, said chamber having a rear wall at a substantial distance from the front of the machine and provided with an aperture for passage of the vended goods to said chamber, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto and to the vended goods and means whereby the chute may be rocked to open position.

9. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a casing inclosing the operative parts of said machine, a pivoted coin-chute normally held open to clear the same of foreign matter, a chamber within the casing at the front thereof into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, said chamber having a rear wall at a substantial distance from the front of the machine and provided with an aperture for passage of the vended goods to said chamber, a manually operable door for said chamber, to provide access thereto and to the vended goods, and means for rocking said chute to clear same of foreign matter.

10. In a coin controlled vending or delivery machine, the combination of a casing inclosing the operative parts of said machine, a coin-chute adapted to rock as a whole on a longitudinal axis to clear the same of foreign matter and comprising a laterally off-set portion, a light rail forming one side of said off-set portion and constituting a continuation of the chute-wall, said ail having a lower curved edge, a narrow rib forming the floor of the chute, means for mounting said chute to permit ready removal thereof, a chamber within the casing at the front thereof into which foreign matter cleared from the chute is received, said chamber having a rear wall at a substantial distance from the front of the machine and. provided with an aperture for passage of the vended goods to said chamber, a manually operable door for said chamber to provide access thereto and to the vended goods, means whereby the rocking movement of the chute is effected by the operation of said door, a magnet adjacent the chute for attracting undesirable coins or tokens passing therethrough andmeans operable by the rocking movement of the chute to remove said coins or tokens from the magnet and cause their removal to the aforesaid chamber.

In witness whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

KATRINE ELLEN FAQWNS. GEORGINE KERMODE. Witnesses:

H. PETER VENN, H. BARKER.

.Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

